Metal framed wall structure
First Claim
1. A metal wall-framing structure for a building, the wall-framing structure comprising:
- a horizontally disposed top plate, a horizontally disposed bottom plate and a plurality of vertically extending wall studs interconnecting the top and bottom plates;
the top and bottom plates being substantially identical and each being in the form of a generally U-shaped channel having side walls, a base wall which interconnects the side walls and a plurality of paired inwardly directed tabs arrayed along each of the side walls, the tabs along each of the side walls being separate from one another, being disposed parallel to the base wall and each having a width significantly smaller than the space between adjacent tabs;
the studs each having a generally C-shaped section formed by first and second parallel legs, a wall connecting the two legs and first and second inwardly directed flanges extending from the first and second legs respectively and disposed parallel to the connecting wall, each stud having a width between the first and second parallel legs which is approximately equal to the spacing between the side walls of the plates whereby the terminal ends of the studs may be nested within the channels defined by the plates, each stud having a thickness between the flanges and the connecting wall which is approximately equal to the centre spacing between adjacent tabs on each side wall of the plates, and each stud being formed with notches in each corner thereof adjacent the terminal ends of the stud, the notches being separate from one another in the form of apertures which extend only around respective corners of the stud and positioned such that, when the ends of each stud are located within the plates, the notches are engaged and the stud is constrained against moving by four adjacent ones of the tabs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A building wall frame structure which is formed from metal and which is intended for assembly by relatively unskilled labor at a construction site. The structure comprises upper and lower horizontally disposed wall plates and a plurality of vertically extending studs interconnecting the wall plates. The upper and lower wall plates are identical and each is in the form of a generally U-shaped channel having side walls, a base wall which interconnects the side walls and a plurality of paired inwardly directed tabs arrayed along each of the side walls. The studs have a C-shaped section which has a width equal to the spacing between the side walls of the plates and the terminal ends of the studs are fitted within the channels defined by the plates. Each stud has a thickness which is approximately equal to the center spacing between adjacent tabs on the wall plates and each stud is formed with notches in each of its corners adjacent the terminal ends of the stud. The notches are provided so that, when the ends of each stud is located within an associated one of the plates, the notches are engaged and the stud is constrained against movement by four adjacent ones of the tabs.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A metal wall-framing structure for a building, the wall-framing structure comprising:
- a horizontally disposed top plate, a horizontally disposed bottom plate and a plurality of vertically extending wall studs interconnecting the top and bottom plates;
the top and bottom plates being substantially identical and each being in the form of a generally U-shaped channel having side walls, a base wall which interconnects the side walls and a plurality of paired inwardly directed tabs arrayed along each of the side walls, the tabs along each of the side walls being separate from one another, being disposed parallel to the base wall and each having a width significantly smaller than the space between adjacent tabs;
the studs each having a generally C-shaped section formed by first and second parallel legs, a wall connecting the two legs and first and second inwardly directed flanges extending from the first and second legs respectively and disposed parallel to the connecting wall, each stud having a width between the first and second parallel legs which is approximately equal to the spacing between the side walls of the plates whereby the terminal ends of the studs may be nested within the channels defined by the plates, each stud having a thickness between the flanges and the connecting wall which is approximately equal to the centre spacing between adjacent tabs on each side wall of the plates, and each stud being formed with notches in each corner thereof adjacent the terminal ends of the stud, the notches being separate from one another in the form of apertures which extend only around respective corners of the stud and positioned such that, when the ends of each stud are located within the plates, the notches are engaged and the stud is constrained against moving by four adjacent ones of the tabs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a horizontally disposed top plate, a horizontally disposed bottom plate and a plurality of vertically extending wall studs interconnecting the top and bottom plates;
Specification